Project Summary

GENCOMM will address the energy sustainability challenges of NWE communities through the implementation of smart hydrogen-based energy matrixes. The project validates the maturity of hydrogen technologies by implementing 3 pilot plants that link the 3 main northwest European renewable sources (Solar Power, Wind Power, and Bioenergy) with energy storage and the main forms of energetic demand (Heat, Power and Transportation fuels). Based on the pilot plants; integrated technical and financial simulation models will be developed. Together, both models will form a Decision Support Tool (DST)that provides a roadmap for communities to transition to renewable, hydrogen-based energy matrixes. The final goal of the project is, through the combination of sources and forms of demand, to lead NWE’s road to sustainability while granting hydrogen its position as a commercially viable energy medium for the future.

Project General Objective

GENCOMM aims to technically and financially validate the renewable H2 value chain and adapt it to a DST that leads NWE communities into sustainable, local and autonomous energy matrixes. The DST is directed to community energy stakeholders (utilities, policy-makers, and private firms in the energy sector), as the key agents to implement the proposed matrix. The project will first engage energetically and territorial remote communities to then address the rest of NWE.

News

The theme of this year’s International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE 2018) in Hong Kong, “Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions”, provided the ideal platform for BURN to promote the work of GenComm. Read More

Hydrogen has the potential to become one of the main energy carriers of the future as it can be easily produced using renewable energy, stored using commercially available technologies and used throughout the entire energy system. Read More

The knowledge of the GenComm partners in the technical and economic aspects of the hydrogen utilisation will be summarised into a web-based decision support tool (H2G0). As one of GenComm's objectives, this tool will guide energy communities, investors, policymakers, academia and industries to build hydrogen storage. Read More

Lead Partner on 2 work packages Management and Communication. Project lead, management and administration, skills development and training. Core link with all other partners in the work packages and also linking in with associate partners in the UK in the public sector, communities and industry.

Viridian Energy Supply Limited

Energia will lead WP 7 project managing the planning, design, construction, testing and commissioning of large (500kW) hydrogen production facility pilot from wind energy. They will also have input in other work packages. Key expertise from Viridian includes renewable operations, energy trading and wind curtailment and modelling of the wind turbines.

Pure Energy Centre

Pure Energy are the Work Package lead for WP I3 the biogas/anaerobic digester to hydrogen pilot. They will deliver the design, supply and delivery of hydrogen system at a biogas plant site in the Western Isle

National University of Ireland Galway

NUI Galway will manage Work Package 8 "Long term Effects" They are the partner in charge of the delivery of the Decision Support Tool (DST). NUI Galway is a member organisation of MaREI (Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland), a €30M Research Centre backed by industry partners and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Dr Monaghan will leverage his role as a Funded Investigator in MaREI to avail of expertise and synergies with other EU and industry-funded projects.

IZES gGmbH

IZES will be the lead in WPI2 encompassing the SOLH2TRANSP route encompassing a pilot Solar-fueled H2 Refueling Station (HRS). The partner’s main role is then to examine and solve 4 different issues: [1] Validate renewable hydrogen production from solar power, [2] Quantify the power demand of a semi-autonomous HRS for hydrogen-fueled vehicles (HFCV), [3] Study the optimal capacities and operation parameters a commercial refueling station should fulfill to supply HFCVs and, [4] create the PPRM.

ENSICAEN

Expertise in catalysis and catalytic processes development for smart hydrogen processes. Methanation pilot development, pilot scale up in WPI1, and technical process modeling in WPT1. Economical analysis of methanation, financial implications, cost benefits, carbon savings calculations in WPT2 that will serve in WPLT assisting with the delivery of Decision Support Tool.

INSA Rouen Normandie

INSA Rouen Normandie have extensive expertise in implementing a new energy-efficient technical model, hydrogen based, including renewable sources (solar, wind, biogas), hydrogen production, storage and methanation. Expertise in catalytic processes development for methanation: pilot development, pilot scale up, technical and economical process modeling. They will work as a partner in WPI3,the biogas to hydrogen plant developing the methanation process as well as working on WP1, WP2 and WP3.

TK Renewables

TK Renewables will bring their mechanical, electrical and technical expertise to the project working with the partners. They will lead WP4 the Implementation Commercial package to develop and validate the market for the pilot plant outputs.

BURN Joint Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The BURN (comBUstion and Robust optimizatioN) joint research group is part of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and contribute to this project as a partner involved in several work packages.